Edward made a
visit to the East, and when he returned he brought Mary (Mrs. Thomas
Perkins) from Hartford with him. William came down from Putnam, Ohio,
and George from Batavia, New York, while Catherine, Harriet, Henry,
Charles, Isabella, Thomas, and James were already at home. It was the
first time they had ever all met together. Mary had never seen James,
and had seen Thomas but once. The old doctor was almost transported
with joy as they all gathered about him, and his eup of happiness was
filled to overflowing when, the next day, which was Sunday, his pulpit
was filled by Edward in the morning, William in the after-noon, and
George in the evening.
Side by side with this charming picture we have another of domestic
life outlined by Mrs. Stowe's own hand. It is contained in the
following letter, written June 21, 1838, to Miss May, at New Haven,
Conn.:--
MY DEAR, DEAR GEORGIANA,--Only think how long it is since I have
written to you, and how changed I am since then--the mother of three
children! Well, if I have not kept the reckoning of old times, let
this last circumstance prove my apology, for I have been hand, heart,
and head full since I saw you.
"Now, to-day, for example, I'll tell you what I had on my mind from
dawn to dewy eve. In the first place I waked about half after four and
thought, 'Bless me, how light it is! I must get out of bed and rap to
wake up Mina, for breakfast must be had at six o'clock this morning.
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